Good Fire Podcast by Amy Cardinal Christianson and Matthew Kristoff
Stories of Indigenous fire stewardship, cultural and social empowerment, and environmental integrity
Episode highlight
In this episode, Ntando Nondo talks about Indigenous land stewardship and fire management practices in Zimbabwe.
Resources
Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNET)
Sponsors
The Canadian Partnership for Wildland Fire Science
Support from:
● California Indian Water Commission
● Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation
Quotes
42.08 - 42.16: “If there is a fire, you better use the little water you have to save your property.”
Takeaways
Ensuring fire safety (2.43)
Ntando works with the Environmental Management Agency and has been involved with fire issues for over 10 years in Zimbabwe. He highlights that most fires are where people are, so they work to understand how people use fires and how some traditional uses have been disrupted. He is in charge of remote sensing to monitor the location and trails of the fire, especially in protected areas and national parks.
Fire management strategies (05.49)
Ntando shares that fire suppression in Zimbabwe takes place at the community level using a fire beater. Extensive fire management is employed in fire-prone plantations like pine, with fire supporters monitoring the situation since the size of the trees makes fire management difficult. The fire management plan involves protecting the ecological regions depending on the amount of rainfall received, the wildlife living in the region and the kind of farming done there.
The many uses and sources of fire (12.45)
Fire is used for land clearing, land control and agriculture, Ntando lists. For Indigenous peoples, fire is the primary source of energy for electricity, warmth, cooking and medicine preparation. Fire also serves as a cultural entity, with stories being told around the fire and settlements being created around the fire. Wildland fires can also be started by a locomotive, electrical faults, or lightning.
Good fire (19.30)
Ntando explains that previously, communities were in charge of the fire management on their own lands but fire now has regulations associated with it. He acknowledges good fire, in reference to fire-dependent processes, but notes that when the fires become intense, they can negatively affect the ecosystems. They do their burning in designated areas ahead of the fire season, to reduce the fuel available to burn and reduce fire intensity.
Indigenous partnership with the government (25.58)
Ntando explicates how each national park has its own fire management plan and designated officials who ensure vegetation is protected and that no biomass is built up which can fuel disruptive fires. The 15+ Indigenous groups in Zimbabwe manage their lands on a day-to-day basis in consultation with the government, which provides technical advice and information to keep within the confines of the law and prevent runaway fires.
Coming together to avert disasters (33.39)
Ntando talks about the techniques used in gazetted forests to manage fires and protect plantations, forests, and animals. Zimbabwe is a member of the Southern Africa Fire Network (SAFNET), a voluntary organization that shares strategies on fire management and any developments across borders using remote sensing to alert neighbouring countries in the event of a cross-border fire so they can mobilize their fire management equipment and crew in time.
Beating the fires (39.26)
Ntando describes a fire beater as a wooden stick of 1.5m to 2m with a 40 X 60 cm piece of rubber on one end used to beat the fire grounds to remove oxygen from the fire. Old conveyor belts or tires can be used as the source of rubber. They also use sprayers, sprinklers and other tools to disperse chemicals and water. He points out that less raking or digging is needed since the above-ground biomass or foliage is not too much.
Prepare for the worst, expect the best (43.29)
Ntando recalls the 2010 fire in the Midlands province lasted for 3 days, killing 7 elephants and several donkeys and domesticated animals. He mentions, however, that no fire in Zimbabwe has been bad enough to have people evacuate their homes. Fire breaks allow for effective demarcation of lands and timely fire management before the entire community is affected.
Fire then and now (47.01)
Ntando observes that fire used for indoor purposes like cooking or cultural ceremonies continues, but the use of fire outside the home or in agriculture is restricted, especially during Zimbabwe’s fire season from 31st July to 31st October. He envisions consulting with Indigenous communities on fire management so that the fire can continue to play a central role in their culture.
The future of fire (55.06)
The use of technology for fire management is new in Zimbabwe, and it has proven to be efficient in communication and fire plan execution, Ntando believes. Satellite technology and remote sensing can be helpful in presenting a graphical summary of the success of fire management plans and inform further refinements to the plan. This will help continue the thriving biodiversity of Zimbabwe, where people and majestic animals live alongside the fires.
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